1.1 Visits to social care institutions (residential homes for the elderly) RH (Koper unit) we received an explanation that residents of the secure ward do not participate in the home’s events. Employees made it clear that the reason for this is that they are uninterested in these events, as well as for the fact that their presence bothers the other residents. NPM did not accept this explanation, wherefore it asked for additional clarification. In its reply, the home explained that the residents of the secure ward attend other of the home’s events. We also noticed that in the homes which have several secure wards that these wards can differ greatly between each other (Jesenice). It is necessary to actively engage the residents the whole time. Of course it is easiest to leave residents to watch television, however this does nothing to help them maintain their cognitive and mnemonic abilities. Jesenice RH explained that the activities in the units noted as examples of good and bad practice in our report are linked. Residents who do not suffer from dementia can organize their day and their spare time as they like. They can be active in crafts, attend occupational therapy, read, watch television, and visit self-help groups. The participation of each resident in the home’s activities is recorded daily (Trebnje, Radlje ob Dravi, Velika Polana, Trnovo). Some retirement homes evaluate an individual resident’s inclusion in the home’s activities after a certain period of time (Radlje ob Dravi). On our visit we checked some of the entries and found that they were kept carefully and diligently (Trebnje, Trnovo). At Trnovo HE, the question arose about how to detect a potential reduction in a resident’s interest or capacity for certain activities, given that inclusion in them is not recorded, and individual programs are evaluated just once per year. During our visit, the atmosphere at secure wards was often pleasant and lively, and the residents were included in various activities (reading time, mnemonic games, etc.). Some residents were sitting or walking around the lounge (Trebnje, Radlje ob Dravi). At Ptuj RH (Koper unit), we got the feeling upon our arrival that the residents were left by themselves, and on our first visit we did not notice a schedule of activities posted anywhere in the ward. In its response, the home explained that the activities schedule is prepared and hung in a visible place. In addition to the weekly level, activities are also planned at the monthly and annual level. Homes formulate an individual plan for each resident, which is checked periodically and appropriately amended or supplemented. The individual plan includes a description of their state upon admission, a selection of activities that will be attended by the resident, and the objectives the resident would like to achieve. The individual plan also includes the resident’s long-term goals and any special desires. Additionally the plan contains an evaluation of objectives and evaluation date. At Trebnje HE we were surprised that neither of the two plans we inspected contained the residents’ wishes, even though planning should be founded upon the resident’s identified needs and desires (Concept of Working with Persons Suffering from Dementia, p. 13). We were unpleasantly surprised at Ptuj RH (Koper unit), that individual plans except for a few rare exceptions did not even exist. None of the residents of the secure ward had an individual plan drawn up. One of the employees explained to us that they work with the residents “by feeling”. The question arose as to whether the home was actually working in the residents’ best interest, if there were not even individual plans drafted which would allow their needs and desires to be taken into consideration. The home explained in its response that it had drafted all individual plans, except for those residents who had arrived at the home later. We verified that this is actually the case upon a subsequent supervision visit. Religious care is provided to residents in the home’s chapel or in dedicated rooms. Residents who are still mobile can attend mass at nearby churches either by themselves or with the accompaniment of volunteers or staff (Škofja Loka Centre, Ptuj RH). Once per week (Ptuj) or per month (Škofja Loka Centre, Jesenice) mass is held at the home. Prayer groups are also organized at the homes. A Catholic priest visits home residents and can listen to confession upon request (Škofja Loka Centre). Needs for other faiths were not addressed in the majority of the homes visited, although some of them have residents of other religions (e.g. Islam – Škofja Loka Centre). At Ptuj RH some residents recently expressed the desire to attend Jehovah Witnesses religious ceremonies, and residents were enabled to pursue such meetings in the home’s recreational rooms. Given the demographics of the local population, it can also be expected that there will be more desire and requests for the provision of rites of other faiths at Jesenice RH, especially Orthodox and Muslim. We accordingly suggested that Jesenice RH make it clear to the residents (both those who already reside at the home as well as those who have expressed interest) as to which religious activities already exist, and invite them to turn to employees in the event of any difficulties in performing their religious duties. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2013 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 49